Month: May 2018

Skincare should be an essential component of your beauty routine. Taking care of your skin can be a daunting task if you don’t know your skin type, or the products that work best with it. Today I share my top tips to care for sensitive, oily, dry, and combination skin.

Dry Skin

If your skin is dry, it is important to avoid over washing it. Instead, you should replenish moisture in the skin. Washing your face the night before then applying a moisturizer or serum in the morning helps maintain a delicate balance between your skin’s moisture barrier.

Oily Skin

Excess oil produced by the skin can actually be beneficial! The oil produced by the skin contains antioxidants and vitamins. If you’re trying to reduce oil production without exacerbating it, a foaming cleanser will help. Applying a toner following cleanser will gently exfoliate while balancing the skin’s natural moisture.

Combination Skin

Combination skin is usually more flexible – meaning that your skincare routine often changes each season. Tips for both oily and dry skin will work if your skin is combination. A face wash containing glycolic acid will balance both the oil and dryness.

I love experimenting with bright, smoky, or glittery eyeshadow combinations. I kept my eyeshadow bright but subtle for this look using Anastasia Beverly Hills Soft Glam Palette. I started by blending the shades ‘Rustic’ and ‘Dusty Rose’ into my crease. I pressed ‘Sienna’ along my entire lid before adding a touch of glitter with the shade ‘Glistening’. I applied this shade to the inner half of my eyelid. I finished my eye makeup with Kat Von D’s Tattoo Liner and Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara to add volume to my lashes.

I upgraded my brush set a few months ago and have absolutely loved my Sephora Collection Ready to Roll Brush Set. I searched for a set that contained every brush I needed, along with being portable and lightweight. When I tested this set out in store, I immediately knew that I found the perfect brushes. Each of the 10 brushes in this set are high-quality, durable, and apply makeup flawlessly.

The Packaging

The packaging is both sleek and travel-friendly. The brushes are held in a soft, pliable black leather roll that features a cross-hatch design. A small tassel closes the brush roll and it can be rolled loosely or tight. The ‘Sephora’ logo is embossed on the roll. My favourite aspect of the packaging is that there are spaces to fit all 10 brushes, plus any additional brushes you may have. When I first began using this set, the packaging had a strong leathery smell that faded after a few days.

The Brushes

The quality of the brushes is perfection. Each brush is soft, durable and easy to use. The grip on the brush handle is sturdy and the name of each brush is embossed on it. Each brush is dense but feels light on the skin.

This set contains 10 brushes:

A powder brush

A complexion brush

Angled blush brush

Fan brush

Highlight & contour brush

Eyeshadow brush

Fluffy smudge brush

Crease brush

Concealer brush

Angled liner brush

Each brush is ideal for applying and blending makeup. I use them daily in my makeup routine, and experience zero bristle fallout. I adore the portability, ease of use and easy cleaning of this brush set. If you are looking for a full-sized set to introduce into your makeup collection, Sephora Collection Ready to Roll Brush Set retails for $88 at Sephora.

As I approach my three-year blogging anniversary, I decided to reflect and write a post about the lessons I’ve learned along the way.

1. It’s okay to take time to reset

I’ve blogged consistently for the past year and a half. In that timeframe, I’ve taken a few breaks. One important lesson I learned from these breaks: It’s okay to step away from your blog, as needed! Instead of feeling down about not posting as usual, a break provided me time to reset and develop new ideas, content, and inspiration.

2. Developing a blogging schedule is a good motivator

Determining a schedule for my blog post topics has been a great way to stay motivated. I know exactly what to write on each day, and it has kept my ideas flowing.

3. Don’t compare yourself to other bloggers

Everyone has their own path to success. It is easy to get sucked into the competition surrounding blogging, but it’s important to remember that there is no formula to achieve success. I’m proud of what I’ve achieved so far in my blogging journey, and recognize that everyone achieves different levels of success. (Reaching 1, 000 subscribers has been my biggest accomplishment to date!)

I recently received a sample of BareMinerals Statement Matte Liquid Lipstick from Sephora. This lipstick is a long-wearing, comfortable liquid lipstick. I typically do not buy lipstick from brands such as BareMinerals or Dior, so I was quite excited to test this liquid lipstick from BareMinerals!

The Packaging

This lipstick comes in a squared tube with a black top. The tube itself is lightweight, and bears the colour of the lipstick held inside. Similar to most liquid lipsticks, this one has a doe-foot applicator to apply lip colour evenly. The tube bears the ‘BareMinerals’ logo and it looks sleek and sophisticated.

The Wear

This lipstick dries matte, and feels very comfortable on the lips. I wear the lipstick for 4-5 hours throughout the day and it does not flake or smudge.

The Colour

I instantly loved the colour. The sample I received was in the shade ‘Fire’, a gorgeous orange-red. The colour appears as a bright, vibrant red with orange undertones when applied to the lips.

This lipstick is available in a range of 9 shades, including:

Luxe – Dirty pastel pink

Fire – Bright orange-red

VIP – Crimson

Naughty – Oxblood-red

Juicy – Brick red

Shameless – Hot pink

OMG – Magenta

Flawless – Muted plum

Devious – Burgundy with a lilac undertone

BareMinerals Statement Matte Liquid Lipstick is a long-wearing, comfortable formula. I adore the colour selection and it offers shades that are versatile for day or night. This lipstick retails for $19 at Sephora.

I frequently use Twitter to share links to my blog posts, but recently began to grow my blog with the platform. I shared my content but did not engage with my followers or fellow bloggers. Implementing a few simple strategies has not only grown my following but also increased my engagement on my blog.

1. Engage with your followers

If you’re using Twitter to promote your blog posts, it is important to engage with your followers (and potential readers). It only takes 5-10 minutes to scroll through your feed and like, retweet, or comment on your followers Tweets. This not only increases your engagement, but it also increases the visibility of your account and blog.

2. Create a call-to-action

I recently posted a call-to-action and asked my followers to link their blogs in one of my Tweets. This was beneficial for two reasons – (1) I was able to explore new blogs and content; and (2) Connecting with other bloggers grew both my Twitter account and my blog’s follower count.

3. Add hashtags to your Tweets

Adding hashtags to your tweet, or tagging a brand, will introduce your content to new readers who may not have found your blog otherwise. Exploring hashtags on Twitter also increases your visibility to brands you may want to work with.

4. Add images to your Tweets

Tweets with images receive twice the amount of engagement than those without. Your tweet will stand out more than text-only tweets, especially if it the size is Twitter-friendly.

This is a different post from what I normally write, but I’m always inspired by ‘What I Eat in a Day’ videos and blog posts. I’ve recently started to incorporate more water, healthier meals, and less refined foods into my diet. Here is what a typical day looks like on my plate:

Breakfast

I start each day with two essentials: a cup of coffee and a glass of water. I like to drink a tall glass of water after waking up to hydrate. I then brew a coffee with my Keurig. Currently, my flavour of choice is Starbucks Caramel-Flavoured Coffee. My breakfast usually consists of a homemade breakfast sandwich – made with an English muffin, egg whites, turkey bacon and mozzarella cheese.

Lunch

My lunch varies from day-to-day. Sometimes I’ll favour a salad, or other days I’ll make my favourite pasta dish. One meal that I’ve eaten often in the past two weeks is naan bread packed with veggies. After toasting a naan bread, I add a heap of lettuce, red pepper, cheese, and balsamic vinaigrette. The veggies keep me full and satisfied for the afternoon so I don’t snack throughout the day.

Dinner

I have an eternal love for pasta. Fettuccine alfredo is one of my favourite comfort foods, and I recently began making it with fresh pasta. (Fresh pasta tastes much better!) On the day I photographed these meals, I knew pasta would be my final dish of the day. I crafted this one with alfredo, fresh pasta, and a lot of mozzarella cheese (you’ll see a trend in each of these meals…)

What does your daily plate look like? If there are specific recipes or foods you eat on a typical day, let me know in the comments below!

Anastasia Beverly Hills Stick Foundation is an alternative to traditional, bottled foundation formulas. I use this foundation daily in my makeup routine and it provides buildable, crease-free coverage. I adore this foundation when traveling because the product is a lightweight stick that is shaped like a lipstick bullet.

The Packaging

I love how sleek and sophisticated the packaging is. The foundation itself is encased in a tube that is shaped like lipstick. It is lightweight and features a twistable end. The tube has a glossy, black finish and bears the ‘Anastasia Beverly Hills’ logo.

The Formula

Anastasia Beverly Hills Stick Foundation has a unique cream formula that dries matte but appears natural on the skin. It is highly pigmented. When you first begin to use a new foundation stick, it feels cakey and does not blend well. However, once you use the product a few times, the formula glides onto the skin and blends with little effort. The foundation covers my blemishes and does not accentuate any dry patches on my skin.

How to use it

I’ve tested this foundation with both a brush and a BeautyBlender. Achieving even coverage is easier with a brush. To use Anastasia Beverly Hills Stick Foundation, apply the product directly to the skin and blend it out with a brush. I often hydrate my skin before applying this foundation to ensure the foundation blends well.

Anastasia Beverly Hills Stick Foundation is a convenient, creamy alternative to traditional foundation formulas. It is ideal for travel, and allows you to create both a natural or matte skin finish. The product is available in 30 shades. The shade I own is called ‘Porcelain’ – for fair skin with cool undertones. Anastasia Beverly Hills Stick Foundation retails for $33 at Sephora.

Concealer is one of my holy-grail makeup products. While I use it daily to conceal blemishes, it has become a versatile tool in my makeup kit. A lightweight, buildable concealer formula is ideal for use in unexpected ways:

1. Use it as an eyelid primer

Concealer quickly became my eyelid primer. Priming your eyelids with concealer creates a smooth, even base for eyeshadow. Gently dab concealer on your lid before applying eyeshadow for crease-free, vibrant color. Concealer is also an excellent primer for the lips because it neutralizes your lips’ natural hue.

2. Enhance your contour

Once you’ve contoured your cheekbones, use concealer to “reverse contour” by applying concealer above and below where you’ve applied your bronzer. This trick will sharpen the contrast between your contour and highlight, chiseling your cheekbones.

3. Brighten your eyes

I adore using concealer to brighten my eyes. Dab concealer to the inner corner of your eye and below the browbone for an instant lift. Applying concealer underneath the eyes will brighten and add dimension to your face.

Glowing skin and a clear complexion are two of my skin care goals. I like to add face masks into my weekly skin care routine to clarify, detoxify, and moisturize my skin. As a self-proclaimed beauty lover, I’ve tried a variety of masks. Today I share the masks that made it to the top of my ‘must-have’ list.

1. GlamGlow THIRSTYMUD Hydrating Mask

This was the first hydrating face mask I’ve ever tried. This product is from GlamGlow, and I’ve used various masks from their collection. I immediately loved how it added extra moisture to my skin without weighing it down. The THIRSTYMUD Hydrating Treatment leaves my skin hydrated. glowy and smooth. I typically use this mask 1-2 times a week to supplement with my regular moisturizer.

2. Tatcha Luminous Dewy Skin Mask

I adore Tatcha’s Water Cream Moisturizer and was excited to learn that the brand also has a range of face masks. The Dewy Skin Mask is actually a lightweight sheet mask. Because it does not require rinsing, it is a great skincare option for busy mornings. This mask has the consistency of a serum – perfect for dry skin.

3. GlamGlow YOUTHMUD Tinglexfoliate Treatment

GlamGlow’s YOUTHMUD mask is unique. You apply the mask like others from the GlamGlow collection, but it works differently. Upon contacting the skin, the mask begins to tingle! This mask is excellent for brightening. I enjoy using this mask to exfoliate and clear any blemishes.

4. Sephora Collection Face Masks

Sephora Collection offers single-use sheet masks for the face, eyes, lips, hands, and feet. I like to rotate face masks from this collection into my skincare routine for an instant refresh. Each face mask is reminiscent of a flower, and the names of the masks range from Lotus to rose. My favorite mask from the collection is the Rose mask – it moisturizes and brightens my skin while preventing blemishes.